In my quest for a suitable reflective vest that meets the PBP regulations, that is comfortable to wear, and that doesn’t take much space in my handlebar bag, I now have bought a Mavic reflective vest. How does it compare to the “official” PBP and the Rapha vests, which I tested earlier?

The Mavic vest is a “wind breaker” vest that doubles as a reflective vest. The front uses a nylon shell material, while the upper back panel is a breathable, closely-woven mesh. A large zippered pocket on the lower back could be left open to increase ventilation. (Otherwise, you’ll have two layers of nylon shell material on your lower back.) The vest is heavier and bulkier than the Rapha vest, but lighter and smaller than the “official” vest.

Mavic’s vest has ample amounts of reflective material on the back, some of it placed low enough to be visible when the rider is in the drops. It reflects well (below), and it meets the EN 1150 standard that now is required in PBP.

I usually wear medium-sized cycling jerseys, and Mavic’s size Medium vest fit snugly over two wool jerseys. When in doubt about sizing, I recommend ordering the next size up.

The vest does not have mesh panels at the front or on the sides, so it will keep you warm. This can be good on cold nights during PBP, but may cause you to overheat during hot nights.

Of the vests reviewed so far, this one is my favorite. It isn’t perfect: I usually do not wear wind breakers, so I would prefer a vest that is more ventilated. At least the Mavic vest fits snugly. It does not absorb much moisture. Most importantly, it reflects well and meets the EN 1150 guidelines. I probably will wear this one at PBP.

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About Jan Heine, Editor, Bicycle Quarterly

I love cycling and bicycles, especially those that take us off the beaten path. I edit Bicycle Quarterly magazine, and occasionally write for other publications. One of our companies, Bicycle Quarterly Press publishes cycling books, while Compass Bicycles Ltd. makes and distributes high-quality bicycle components for real-world riders.

I poured some water over the “official” and the Mavic vests, and water beaded off very quickly, so as long as that beading effect is working, they should be fine. Once the vests get older, and the water no longer beads off, it may be a different matter.

Will deRosset tested the reflectivity in the wet a few years back and reported on it in the RUSA newsletter. The vinyl reflective materials did much better than the “fuzzy” and “printed” materials. (The reflective materials that RUSA and SIR sell reflect especially poorly when wet.)

I believe the EN standard has requirements for reflectivity and moisture. I don’t recall whether it’s for reflectivity when wet, or after drying. Of course, all reflective materials become less effective as they age and get scratched, fade, etc. It’s a good idea to test one’s reflective clothing every couple of years…

I contacted Mavic USA to see about ordering one of these and have learned that they are out of most sizes themselves, and that most Mavic dealers do not carry them in stock. Specifically: they have L but not XL (didn’t inquire about smaller sizes) and will not receive new stock until September. I don’t really fit into the L2S (“official” PBP, also RUSA and maybe SIR) vest, so Mavic XL would be necessary.

Have an official PBP vest in XL on order, and plan to scavenge for something better in Paris.

I bought the Mavic vest last week as well based on Your test of the official vest. I tested it this weekend on a 600K. I found it comfortable up to 20 degrees Celcius (68 Fahrenheit), but that is probably individual. In the rain including heavy rain I wore it over my Gore Tex rain jacket. It did not appear to soak water. As I had taken off my jersey, the pocket came in handy for all my stuff. even though it took som rummaging to find what I was searching for in the one giant pocket. It is bulkier when folded, than my normal vest. Then again I will only have to carry one vest for the ride. So I would recommend the vest.

As Jan said earlier, the entire vest needs to be tested by a lab and then have the appropriate certified label on it. So even if I went and bought the exact material Mavic has and had a tailor make me the exact same vest, without that lab cert. it’s a no-go. There’s the reflectivity test, but also tests for colorfastness after UV exposure, etc.

When I was in France the other day I saw in a gas station workwear T shirts that met the much higher EU standards for professional use. They were dirt cheap. The fit was not quite that of a cycling jersey, of course, but beyond that they may be an alternative for warmer weather.